Daniel Hsu

Characterized by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a “poet… [with] an expressive edge to his playing that charms, questions, and coaxes,” American pianist Daniel Hsu is increasingly recognized for his easy virtuosity and bold musicianship. He captured the bronze medal and prizes for best performance of both the commissioned work and chamber music at the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and is also a 2016 Gilmore Young Artist, first prize winner of the 2015 CAG Victor Elmaleh Competition, and bronze medalist of the 2015 Hamamatsu International Piano Competition.  

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Daniel began studying piano at age 6, made his concerto debut with the Fremont Symphony Orchestra at age 8, and gave his recital debut at the Steinway Society of the Bay Area at age 9, before being accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music at the age of 10. Since then, he has made his debuts with the Philadelphia Orchestra and at Carnegie Hall as part of the CAG Winners Series at Weill Recital Hall, and performed across the United States, China, Japan, and Europe. A sensitive and keen collaborator, he has worked with the Tokyo, Taiwan, North Carolina, and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras, amongst others, under the baton of conductors Leonard Slatkin, Nicholas McGegan, Cristian Măcelaru, Ruth Reinhardt, Hannu Lintu, Marcelo Lehninger, and Stilian Kirov.  

Now 23 years old, Daniel graduated from Curtis in spring 2019, where he studied with Gary Graffman, Robert McDonald, and Eleanor Sokoloff. Also gifted in programming, he contributed to the creation of Workflow (now known as Shortcuts), which won the 2015 Apple Design Award and was acquired by the tech giant in 2017. 

Daniel Hsu appears by arrangement with The Cliburn.